Harry Potter Comes to Campus...P2
Two Cougars Hit 1,000 Point Mark ...P5
February 18, 2014 highlandernews.net
Student Loans Take Costly Turn By Brittany Hayes, Reporter
Changes to student loan terms coupled with a nasty post-recession economy are causing many students to have more trouble paying tuition bills. Students across the U.S. have encountered problems obtaining Parent Plus loans since changes were made to the system in 2011. Students who had received denials to Parent Plus loans have often been due to parents’ problematic credit standing such as a recent bankruptcy filing or home foreclosure. Changes made in 2011 included the denial of Plus loans to parents who recently had a loan go into collection. This forced more students to
find alternative ways to fund their tuition. Jane Dessoye, Director of Enrollment Management, said these circumstances are impacting students more frequently. “It’s true that in other years we have had many more approvals in the Plus loans. Students whose parents were approved in the past all of a sudden find themselves ineligible,” said Dessoye. Students can appeal a negative decision before they seek alternative options. “It’s an instant gratification. The family knows immediately if they are approved or denied and if they are denied they are immediately
offered the opportunity to appeal that decision,” said Dessoye. Sylvia Maas and Kathy Pesta, both of Student Financial Services, said students who receive denials for Plus loans often have other government resources. If a student’s parents are denied, the student will become eligible to receive additional unsubsidized federal loans. The amount offered will vary depending on how many credits the student has earned. They may obtain private loan. “Private loans that come from different lenders typically with higher interest rates are less flexible or have less desirable repayment terms,” said Dessoye.
Maas and Pesta said students should educate themselves on the terms of private loans, and they urge students to ask questions of the private lenders so the students understand interest rates and repayment options. Sometimes, denied students can find a different cosigner, but if the cosigner is not a parent, they must seek an alternative loan route. “Our recommendation is that an alternative loan be a last-ditch effort because of the interest rates and repayment terms being so undesirable. Another thing I recommend students to do is to make certain at the front end that they have
Who’s Your Mr. Misericordia?
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MARY BOVE/ THE HIGHLANDER
Sophomore Nick Ciocchi competed in the swimsuit portion of the Mr. Misericordia event, handing Kit Foley a signed beach ball. Ciocchi won the pageant that took place in the Lemmond Theater on Feb. 11. Kit Foley, Bruce Riley and Glenn Bozinski judged the event.
Students Party 4 Cancer Research By Alexandria Smith, Web Master
Sophomore Nick Stanovick and in the air. We didn’t know what fire. That’s what really made me his committee want the commuwas going to really happen with it. passionate about this. Regardless nity to get ready to Party 4 Life this So, my best friend and I decided of whether or not I’ve experienced spring. to take the fund over and kind of or went through cancer or know Party 4 Life is the signature event make it our passion,” he said. what it’s like to know someone of the Lucy Fund, a national fund Stanovick made it is his mission that’s been through cancer, being in coordination with the National Foundation for Cancer Research created by Stanovick’s mother following her diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2008. Stanovick said Party 4 Life began as a way for his mother to raise money for metastatic cancer research, but it quickly grew to be a Above is the Lucy fund banner to spread awareness of Metastatic Cancer. highly anticipated community event. to bring his mother’s event to at the Party 4 Life and seeing the “[Party 4 Life] was put on in campus. Alongside Blott, Stanovick passion in their eyes made me realour community once a year in the has received extensive support ize that it is a big issue – especially summertime, and it was just a time from his on-campus Party 4 Life metastasis,” said Delgado. for our community to come out committee, which includes sophoStanovick believes that, based and support her and show love for mores Trevor Reed, Amy Bunavage, off of the response he has received her as well as raise money for her Lindsay Lapreste, Yalixsa Delgado from Delgado and other members fund,” Stanovick said. and Student Activities Director of the Party 4 Life committee, colFrom her diagnosis in 2008 to Darcy Brodmerkel. lege students will be very open to her passing in late 2012, Lucy Delgado, who has never been inthe event. Stanovick was able to raise over volved with an event that benefits “You just have to tell them what $200,000 for metastatic cancancer research, is very enthusiasthe cause is, and so, here at Mis, cer research. After her passing, tic about what Party 4 Life has to I think that our campus is small Stanovick was unsure what would offer. enough that we can really make happen to the Lucy Fund and Party “I really think that Party 4 Life this event successful. I know a lot 4 Life until he teamed up with his is going to help with [connecting of people on campus. The people I friend Jalen Blott. students] because experiencing a know know a lot of people on cam“The Lucy Fund was kind of up Party 4 Life is what really set my pus. Everyone pretty much knows
Viewfinder: Mr. Misericordia Check out photos of this year’s man pageant.
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everyone on campus. So, I think it’s a good way for the campus itself to address the issue of cancer and kind of bridge that uncomfortable gap between the student body and stuff that they don’t want to talk about,” Stanovick said. Party 4 Life will include guest speakers, interactive dancing, musical chairs and a balloon release that is characteristic of every annual event. “My mom’s signature activity is a balloon release, and her favorite song is ‘Seasons of Love’ from the RENT soundtrack. So, we play that with the balloons. You can write stuff on them and release them. It’s one of the most powerful parts of the whole event,” Stanovick said. Stanovick notes that while the beginning of the event is going to be more serious as it directly deals with conversations about metastatic cancer, it will lighten as a celebration of life itself. The Party 4 Life will take place March 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. in Insalaco Hall. A $10 donation is suggested, and refreshments will be provided. smith10@misericordia.edu
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ROUNDABOUT TO BENEFIT PEDESTRIANS
By Ellen Hoffman, Editor-in-Chief
Editor’s note: This story is the second of a three part series examining the construction of a new traffic pattern at the five-way intersection in the Back Mountain. State officials say a planned roundabout in downtown Dallas will make travel easier for pedestrians and people with disabilities. “I think the roundabout could be potentially confusing for students at first, especially the students who have been attending Misericordia for a few years,” said Liana Kalish, a senior RA at 111 Lake Street, “but I think it can also end up being very beneficial.” The Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Improvement Project, which is set to be completed in 2016, will join all five streets in the heart of Dallas - Memorial Highway, Lake Street, Church Street, Main Street and Machell Avenue - with a single circulating travel lane, which will enable drivers to pass without stopping for traffic lights. PennDOT and Dallas Borough worked together to create the traffic pattern that officials say will lessen time drivers waste at the busy intersection. The project is still in the planning stages and no firm start date has been set. Because the university has facilities on both Lake Street and Machell Avenue, many students travel the area on foot. Senior education major Marisa Ferenchick, who lived in a Machell Avenue dorm, did a lot of walking around Lake Street and she feels the new traffic pattern will make the trek much safer. “I do think it’ll be a benefit but I think it will take time to get used to,” she said. Ferenchick remembers a time when she walked to Weis Supermarkets and it was a “horrid experience,” she said. She said it was difficult to judge when to cross the street because even if the “walk” symbol was lit, cars continued to turn onto different spokes of the five-way intersection. “I eventually just waited for there to be not many cars and ran across,” she said. Officials say the Dallas FiveLeg Intersection Improvement Project will make the intersection pedestrian-friendly. The project’s official website says the current intersection requires pedestrians to cross multiple lanes of traffic, an unsafe situation. In addition, the website states there are currently no ADA-compliant pedestrian amenities. There will be shorter overall crossing distances, and pedestrians will only need to cross one direction of traffic at a time. ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps will be added. Alexa Cholewa, a junior accounting major, said she rarely sees pedestrians walking or biking near or around the five-way intersection. She isn’t sure if pedestrians feel walking is too dangerous or whether they will be more confident once it is in place. “In the long run, I think the accessibility to pedestrians could be beneficial, especially with Misericordia growing in size, and it’ll be easier to walk places,” she said. Roundabouts are common traffic patterns throughout the world, but the United States is a little behind on the trend, the site says. There are 90 roundabouts in Maryland, for example, and more than 70 in New York. Pennsylvania has only 17. Director of Facilities and Campus Safety Paul Murphy acknowledges the heavy traffic during certain hours of the school day, and he feels the roundabout may
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help alleviate the pile up. “When you leave class almost anytime in the day, there is a large number of students who go down Lake Street and typically traffic backs up at the intersection. And, depending on how many cars can get through the intersection, whether it be five or 10 cars, sometimes there is someone not paying attention and they look up and the light has to change and the line gets longer.” But the construction process may present more traffic woes, said Cholewa. She travels through the five-way intersection 10 times a week on average, to classes Monday through Thursday, her parttime retail job at Banana Republic in Wilkes-Barre and her job as an assistant cheerleading coach at a local high school. “I think people are going to get really frustrated – especially people who commute or people who have to leave campus regularly.” She said she worries that class attendance will decrease among commuters who have to take detours, although official detour plans are not available. “I think attendance is going to drop because people will get frustrated and not be able to make it on time because of the construction, or people aren’t going to be able to work off campus as much because of the construction, they will have to drive through to get off campus and make it back in time for a class,” she said. With the already high volume of commuter traffic, Cholewa wonders how long it will take her to get under the arch. “I get stuck at lights and that makes me late,” she said. “With the construction process, there is not going to be a way for me to gauge how much time is needed to travel from point A to point B when going through this. No matter where you go with construction it’s never consistent.” Still, Cholewa feels so frustrated by the current congestion she tweets about it on Twitter. She said lately, it seems the traffic lights have not been synced correctly at the intersection. “I actually just tweeted about this - it’s a two second green and a 14 minute red. Since there are five lights, it takes forever. At a regular four-way two can cross through at a time, for the most part, but at the bottom of Lake Street it’s one at a time.” She said she will be happy to see the traffic lights go. “Right now I can’t envision this, but in theory it sounds like a good idea,” she said of the outcome. Ferenchick also leaves campus often as she completes student teaching this semester. While she does not travel directly through the five-way intersection to get to her placement, she worries where the traffic will be detoured during construction. “I feel as though I might get confused as to where I have to go, especially for people who aren’t always driving around the Dallas area. It would confuse them on which way to go,” she said. Murphy said the university plans to work with PennDOT to make the construction phase as troublefree as possible. “They’ve been very informative and kept us up to speed with public meetings, and I’m sure we’ll have meetings with them and they’ll detail the sequence and what’s going to be shut down. We’ll have to discuss with them alternate travel patterns.” hoffmae3@misericordia.edu
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Colleagues Reminisce, Donate By Matt Scanlon, Reporter
FULL OF OLYMPIC SPIRIT
By Taryn Talacka, Reporter
In the weeks after the passing of help in every task, friends said. worth, Murphy said. There were staff member Jeff Woodworth, his “He really brought so much to many days when employees would friends, colleagues and members our team. He was a great guy,” said be on their way out to go home at of the university community are Beecham 5:00 p.m. and Woodworth would coping with their loss. Wallace remembers learning be walking the opposite direction. Paul Murphy, Director of Facilithings from Woodworth that went He’d know there was a job to do in ties and Campus Safety, decided far beyond the building trades. McHale Hall or Gildea Hall - and to take a campus-wide collection “He was like a second father to he was going to fix it. for the Woodworth “He was going to family. Over $3,000 do it before he in cash and checks went home because was collected and his work was very Murphy, along with important to him, Sister Jean Messaros, and his work was Vice President for always part of him, Mission Integration, that he was always hand-delivered the helping people and collection to his famhe helped people ily on behalf of the by doing his job,” university. Murphy said. A Woodworth Housekeeping Family Fund was also staffer Emma Mulcreated on a “Go Fund MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER hern said Woody Me” Internet site. The The website for donations for the Woodworth family. would often do a job fund’s goal is to raise that she brought to $5,000. me even though he was only 52 his attention, and he would get The men on campus who knew not only a father figure to me, but to it without requiring her to fill Woodworth and worked closely also he taught me a lot. He was out an official work request. He with him - Murphy, Facilities like a mentor,” said Wallace. even did jobs without anyone tellplumber Joe Wallace and Facilities While Wallace got a fatherly vibe ing him they needed to be done: Operations Manager Carl Beefrom his friend Woody, he also Wallace said Woody had a sixth cham - said they remember their admired the way he was a father sense about work that needed to friend, whom they called Woody, to his own young boys. be done. as man who took the things life Woodworth looked after his “He would walk in and say, ‘I just handed him without complaint. family and friends and helped in found a leak in the boiler room,’ “He was the type of guy where his community. and I’d say, ‘What were you doing every morning he would come in, On the morning after a heavy in the boiler room?’ And Jeff and no matter what weather was, snowfall, Murphy remembers would reply, ‘I don’t know, somehe would always say, ‘It is what it Woodworth telling him how he thing just told me to go over there is.’ That was his favorite saying,” would wake up and shovel his and I found a leak.’ Sometimes it said Wallace. “Nothing frazzled sidewalk as well as the sidewalk drove me nuts! We’d all joke about the man, nothing.” of his 85-year-old father who it, but he had that and it was Woody’s co-workers say he never lived next door to him and then bizarre at times,” Wallace said. complained, even if his workload he would clear the surrounding His friends said they want him was overwhelming at times. neighbors’ sidewalks. Then he to be remembered as a good man. Beecham, Wallace and Woodwould go shovel the sidewalk on “He was a saint,” said Beecham. worth all come from different Academy Street, River Street and “Just a great, great guy. We didn’t working backgrounds. Beecham the church steps. just lose a very talented worker; has electrical experience while “And then he was here at 7:00 we lost a friend.” Wallace has plumbing and Woodin the morning and no one knew To donate in honor of Woody, worth specialized in heat and air he did that. He just did it because visit http://www.gofundme. conditioning. But Woodworth that was Jeff. It had to be done com/6fxn80. knew his way around all of the and he knew it,” Murphy said. scanlonm@misericordia.edu trades, and he looked for ways to Clocks had no meaning to Wood-
HOLY MOLDY DORM
By John Young, Reporter
Six students in Gildea Hall returned from winter break to discover a stage 1 mold contamination taking root on approximately two square feet of ceiling drywall in their fourth floor suite. The students are now safely back in their rooms. Campus Safety, Facility staff and a specialized outside company took all the proper steps and precautions, plus some, to ensure that the contamination has been contained, controlled and neutralized, officials say. “I can’t stress enough, Misericordia’s response exceeded what was necessary,” said Safety, Health and Environmental Professional Mike Baltrusaitis who heads Scranton’s Hazardous Operations Group for Cocciardi and Associates, Inc. “It was really refreshing to see what was implemented here by the Facilities staff, that they remembered what they learned in their safety training and that they followed it appropriately.” Campus Safety officials called in Cocciardi and Associates, Inc. for consultation and testing once they knew that they were dealing with some form of mold growth on the ceiling drywall. Students who reside in the suite are safe to return. They had been forced to move into other rooms around campus. “There are no occupancy restrictions for that suite or that building,” said Director of Campus Safety Paul Murphy. The affected area was approximately two square feet in size,
February 18, 2014
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which classifies it as a small size, stage one mold contamination because it covered an area that was less than ten square feet. A stage 2 mold contamination would cover an area from 10-100 feet, and a stage 3 covers 100 square feet or more, said Baltrusaitis. “If you have that [third stage] then that’s when you call a trained contractor and they isolate the area, they hang plastic, contain the area, use air scrubbers that are HEPA filtered, and use very surgical protocols,” said Baltrusaitis. Because the contamination level was relatively small, Campus Safety staffers followed the procedure Baltrusaitis had recommended. “Facilities staff removed the drywall, put it into garbage bags, sealed it up for disposal, and took a HEPA vacuum with a special filter to catch mold spores, followed by cursory wet wiping of solid surfaces,” said Baltrusaitis. “Usually we only go in for re-sampling after level 3, just as a precautionary measure, but we went in after everything was done. We did some re-sampling and everything was acceptable by industry standards. It exceeded requirements for level one. A lot of the guidelines that we follow out there, they don’t even recommend doing things like air sampling or anything like that.” Cocciardi and Associates, Inc. issued their final report on Jan. 30, reassuring fourth floor residents in Gildea Hall that the contamination had been eliminated. The report included a mold fact
sheet with information and general misconceptions about “toxic” or “black mold.” “There are a lot of misconceptions out there. Back when mold first started to become prevalent, media and even contractors hyped it up,” said Baltrusaitis. “Contractors really got the ball rolling on this. There were some pretty shady contractors that would charge unknowing homeowners thousands and thousands of dollars to take out just a little bit of mold saying, ‘Oh, this is black,’ and suddenly it’s a toxic mold.” The report gave no indication of the species of mold found in Gildea Hall. As per the mold fact sheet, the Centers for Disease Control does not recommend routine sampling to identify mold species because identifying the mold is not a reliable way to determine health risks. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Mold to us is mold,” said Baltrusaitis. “There are different types of mold and there are a lot of misconceptions about different types of mold.” Even though the health risks posed by mold vary greatly from person to person, Campus Safety took no chances when they confirmed the possible mold. Residence Life was the first to receive a report from students about the concern. “We’ve had concerns brought to our attention before. Obviously anytime a student sees something, it’s always reported to us as mold ,but then we go and inspect it and
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Fallon Cooper and her roommates never expected the Special Olympics to mean as much to them as it did. Seeing the smile on one face made all the difference. Cooper, a sophomore occupation therapy major, said that she and her roommates needed a break from studying on Feb. 8, so they decided to go to Chacko’s Bowling Alley in Wilkes-Barre to watch a friendly cafeteria worker bowl. That’s when she was inspired by friend Sherry Pudim’s smile. “My roommates and I were in the dining hall and Sherry came over,” said Cooper. “We asked her what she was up to for the weekend, and she told us about it.” Other student attended the event, too, and Pudim said she was happy to see them there. Cooper and her roommates even made a sign that said, “Go Sherry #1.” “My mom was there to cheer me on,” said Pudim. “Twelve students came to see me bowl.” Pudim won a silver medal in bowling this year, but she has won many other medals in past tournaments. “I have many medals,” said Pudim. “I have first, second and third.” Pudim said she was originally supposed to be on a team with a few other players, including MU staffer Patrick Cleary. The team ended up split among the bowling lanes. Cooper, who had been to bowling tournaments before, said
that it was different from what she had ever seen. “It wasn’t the usual tournament set-up I knew,” said Cooper. “Her teammate was a couple of lanes down, so I don’t know if they were paired off or in groups.” Cooper felt that there was a feeling of teamwork in the air despite the separation. She said the atmosphere was incredible. “It felt like it was one huge team taking over the bowling alley,” said Cooper. “If someone got a strike on one, everyone was excited.” Cooper and her roommates were joined by other student volunteers from the area, as well as senior early childhood education major Courtney Bieber and Kirsten Fisher, also a senior early childhood education student. Bieber has attended the Special Olympics for years. “I’ve gone since I was in fifth grade with my best friend,” said Bieber. “I wanted to see Sherry.” Bieber said her favorite part was watching Pudim get a strike. She said Pudim was very excited about it. Fisher said she, like Bieber, loves the Special Olympics. She said the support players receive is inspiring. “Hugs are always happening left and right,” said Fisher. “It’s beautiful and heartwarming.” Fisher said she loves supporting people with disabilities because her career is going to focus around
them. She said events like these strengthen her passion for her career. “I think those types of events are the most amazing due to the people you meet and the lives that touch your heart,” Fisher said. “It’s crazy the vibes people with special needs give off.” Bieber said that there is no way to lose in the Special Olympics. “Win or lose, the participants are so excited,” said Bieber. “They could get last place, and they’d be excited because they’re there and people are supporting them and they just have so much to offer.” Pudim has made it to the championships in Harrisburg, and has met new friends from the Philadelphia area. Pudim said she once met Joe Paterno’s wife and took a picture with her. Bieber said everyone should try to make it to the annual bowling event. “I just think taking an hour or two out of your time to go support them is awesome.” Cooper also wished she saw more students at Chacko’s. She said the event needs greater publicity. “Everyone who comes to Misericordia has that innate purpose to want to help people,” said Cooper. “If she told 10 more people, probably eight more people would have actually come.” talackat@misericordia.edu
MU Exposure: Post Office Features Harry Potter Stamps
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Lead postal clerk Lisa Shaw shows off the new Harry Potter stamps now offered by the post office located in Banks Student Life Center. Each book includes 20 stamps and costs $9.80. There is a limited supply of 25 books available.
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Nicole Battista Ellen Hoffman - Editor-in-Chief Rob Evans Courtney Garloff - Print Editor Donya Forst Arthur Dowell - Web Editor Brittany Hayes Mary Bove - Multimedia Editor Josh Horton Alexandria Smith - Web Master Melanie Quintanilla Tori Dziedziak - Content Manager Alexa Cholewa - Business Manager Gabriella Lengyel - Social Media Manager Melissa Sgroi - Advisor
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Misericordia University 301 Lake Street Dallas, PA 18612
Leah Santucci Casey Saylor Matt Scanlon Taryn Talacka John Young
The Highlander works to produce up-to-date, clear, accurate reporting. If any information is inaccurate or not covered thoroughly, corrections and information will appear in this area. Opinions and views expressed in The Highlander in no way reflect those of Misericordia University or the Sisters of Mercy. The Highlander Staff welcomes students, faculty and reader response. The Highlander reserves the right to edit submissions for grammatical errors and length. All submissions must be signed. Letters to the Editor and/or materials for publication may be submitted by any reader. Items can be sent via e-mail.
CORRECTIONS In an article in the Jan. 21 issue, our staff reported Misericordia becoming a part of GI Jobs magazine for military friendliness which was incorrect – Misericordia is a top military-friendly school in Military Advanced Education’s 2014 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities. In the Feb. 4 issue, a photo of new writing center director Matthew Hinton was credited to Casey Saylor. The photo credit belongs to Leah Santucci
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The Highlander is a free, biweekly publication produced in conjunction with MU Communications Department. Any full-time student is encouraged to join the staff. We are a member of the American Scholastic Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
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Can I Kiss You? By Courtney Garloff, Print Editor
One simple question can completely change dating on college campuses. Students laughed and discussed consensual relationships during the “Can I Kiss You?” program sponsored by the Safe Peer Educators and Student Activities on Feb. 8. The program is offered by the Date Safe Project, founded by Mike Dormitrz whose sister was a rape victim. Students received pins, temporary tattoos, wristbands and wax lips to enjoy as they listened to Dormitrz, a nationally known speaker who travels the country and world speaking to middle, high school and college students as well as military members about dating and intimacy. Some of the topics included consent - and the role of alcohol in sexual assaults. “If someone is drunk, they cannot give consent because there are not 100 percent in their normal state of mind,” said Dormitrz. Dormitrz suggested that students enlist friends for backup and then to offer a ride home for the intoxicated person. “The creeper will freak out and create a scene and reveal themselves. Then you will have more than just your friends supporting you,” said Dormitrz. Dormitrz started advocating for victims of sexual assault after his freshman year of college when he found out his sister had been sexually assaulted. “I thought one thing: I wanted him dead,” said Dormitrz. While that response was overwhelming - and the wrong one, Dormitrz said - Dormitrz used humor to lighten the heavy topic and help students learn effective ways to open the lines of communication with students who have been victimized and need to cope. “I do feel the work is a calling. The traveling does not get tiring because I know I’m going somewhere to get the opportunity to open minds and inspire a new way of thinking. I get the wonderful honor and opportunity to plant the seed for them to take care of and nourish, “ said Dormitrz.” “I thought that the program
was educational and fun and it kept my attention. I really wish I would have gotten a T-shirt,” said sophomore business administration major Sarah Pulice. Pulice attended the program as part of the women’s lacrosse team. “Most people don’t ask for a kiss. They just go for it,” said Dormitrz. A main point of the night included students learning not to be afraid to ask. “I most enjoyed that the guy was really down to earth and was really good with a hard topic,” said speech language pathology major Kelsey Rafferty. Before Dormitrz presented his program, he met with members of SAFE Student Educators, Peer Advocates and Resident Assistants to give a demonstration on how to be a student presenter. “I always start out a presentation by asking a simple question to get people connected and involved,” said Dormitrz. “After the training I was excited to see the program and it exceeded my expectations,” said Rafferty. Many students went to both the training and program later that night to see the strategies put into action. “I thought the training was really helpful, because he covered a lot of issues that we as Peer Advocates have to deal with. We learned how to deal with hecklers and how to get people more engaged in what we are saying,” said Rafferty. To end the night Dormitrz handed out T-shirts and gave away copies of the two books that he wrote – May I Kiss You? and Voices of Courage. May I Kiss You? is a guide for dating that offers real life scenarios to help readers solve any problems that they might face as they date in college. His second book, Voices of Courage, features the stories of 12 survivors of sexual assault, including the story of Dormitrz’s sister. Everyone in attendance got the e-copy and audio book of Voices to read. For more information on sexual assault prevention or Dormitrz’s work, visit www.datesafeproject.org. garloffc@misericordia.edu
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Mike Dormitrz presents “Can I Kiss You” in Lemmond Theater.
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SAFETY FIRST WITH ICE REMOVAL By Nicole Battista, Reporter
That white stuff everyone is distributed by a spray tank, which tracking indoors on shoes and the university does not have. boots isn’t residue from rock salt “All steps have to be salted as - it’s calcium flakes and students soon as they are shoveled, and if are complaining about the mess the snow is falling slow enough we while officials say it’s safer than keep up. That way it is kind of like the material it replaced. a pre-treat,” Finnegan said. Third year pre-DPT students AlCalcium is distributed by a maexa Plevyak and Julianne Munda chine called a Gator, and wherever said the flakes are making a mess the Gator cannot go workers use on carpets and floors. shovels to put down the calcium “It got on my shoes and got in by hand. my rug,” Munda said. “It ruined Munda said a pellet-like product my rug.” called UREA was used before the Plevyak university said the replaced it with calcium calcium. stuck to Finnegan said her shoes. UREA “would “I had to only melt in bepick it off tween certain with a pentemperatures, cil because like if it was it was like only 28 degrees six inches outside, the thick on product would the botnot work.” tom of my In addition, shoe. It is UREA pellets disgustwould clump ing,” she together and said. passersby Groundwould slide on skeepers the product. remove As of now, ice with a the university combinais well stocked tion of with antimaterials slip material. - rock salt Between 30 to on parking 40 tons of the LEAH SANTUCCI/THE HIGHLANDER lots and salt remains in A photo illustration of a bucket roadways storage,. Staff and calcium containing the mixture of calcium and has ordered 137 salt used for snow and ice removal. tons in comparion sidewalks. son to roughly These are the “most effective 200 ordered last year. and most efficient cost-wise” to There are 36 buckets of calcium use, according to Laurie Finnegan, in the doorways. Grounds Manager, who said it’s Calcium flakes can damage the calcium that gets tracked into concrete in concentrations and buildings. can also irritate wet skin, accord“Grounds does not intentionally ing to The New York Landmarks make a mess with the calcium,” Conservancy website. Finnegan said, “and our priority Grass damage is inevitable, is to keep the walkways safe for Finnegan said, whether it is from all students, staff, faculty and the salt or the machine. She visitors.” said calcium is safer than other Munda said she notices the products. anti-slip material most when the Rock salt, otherwise known as surfaces are clear. “Where is the sodium chloride, releases a high salt when we need it?” she asked. amount of chloride when it disFinnegan said calcium is only solves, according to the New York used during a significant weather Landmarks Conservancy website. event - not a light dusting of It can damage metal and concrete. snow. It also could be extremely dam“We only put it down when we aging if it were dumped accidenslide.” tally in solid, large chunks into a Finnegan asks that people conbody of water, Community Relasider the weather when getting tions Coordinator Department of dressed and wear proper footwear. Environmental Protection of the “It is Northeastern PennsylvaNortheast Regional Office Colleen nia. It is going to snow. There are Connolly said. going to be ice some days. We do ”When local municipalities clear the best that we can do,” Finnegan their roads of snow, they cannot said. dump that snow in creeks or Calcium is used as spot treatstreams because of the concenment on wet ground or when the tration levels of sodium chloride temperature drops below freezing. still in the rock salt,” Connolly Finnegan said workers want to said. “However, by that time the avoid laying “a huge line” of salt sodium chloride has been broken on surfaces. down and poses a minimal threat Pre-treating sidewalks with a to streams or other bodies of wamixture of calcium and water ter that may run near roads.” in the form of a brine is not an battistn@misericordia.edu option, she said, because brine is
February 18, 2014 3
CAPS CORNER SAFE Self-Defense February 19, 2014 11-1 p.m. Banks Lobby
Sexual Assault Facts and Education (SAFE) Peer Educators will be hosting sign-ups for students interested in participating in SelfDefense Classes. The course will be taught by SAFE Peer Educator, Danielle Kissane. Danielle will teach a variety of self-defense techniques to promote personal safety in an effort to end sexual violence. SAFE Survivor Stories February 19, 2014 11-1 p.m. Banks Lobby SAFE Peer Educators are encouraging sexual assault Survivors to share their truth about their sexual assault experience. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate by ANONYMOUSLY noting there experience on a post card sized paper. Family and friends of survivors are also encouraged to note their experiences to share with others. A drop off box for Note-ASecret and Survivor Stories will be located in Banks from 11-1p.m. All submissions will be exhibited on CAPS Day April 2nd with a wall dedicated to survivors’ and their family and friends. Please consider participating and sharing your powerful story. SAFE Peer Educators would also like to encourage survivors to visit website “Project Unbreakable” for inspiration on what to share and how the power of their words can send a message to end sexual violence. Thank you!
STUDENT ON THE STREET Go team USA! We asked students in Banks Student Life Center what their favorite winter Olympic event is. If you have a question you would like us to ask, email the newspaper editorial staff at Highland@misericordia.edu.
Education Conference Comes to Campus By Melanie Quintanilla, Reporter
For the first time, Misericordia will host the Pennsylvania State Education Association for Students regional conference. This professional development workshop on Saturday, Feb. 22 will focus on topics relevant to students majoring in education such as learning styles, classroom technology and the benefits of PSEA membership. Education majors from Bloomsburg University, East Stroudsburg University, Marywood University, Keystone College and University of Scranton will attend the event, and non-PSEA members may also attend. “A membership costs $30 and the cost for members is $10, so if you are not a member and want to be one it would cost $40. So those who were not members previously would be able to sign up for the same cost that it would be to just attend the conference,” said Misericordia SPSEA chapter president Amanda Sutton said. PSEA protects the rights of its members and supports them. “I attended the state-wide PSEA Student conference last year and I realized that Misericordia did not have a chapter for PSEA students. I was elected to be the vice
president of the Northeast region, so when I heard that we needed a location for the conference, Misericordia was my first thought. What better way is there to kick off the start of our chapter than with the regional conference right on campus?” said Sutton. Sutton said she wants to share her experiences at the conference with other students interested in education careers. “I wish that I would have gotten into this during my first year at Misericordia, but through doing this now I am hoping that all education majors will have the opportunity to learn, network and have as great of a time as I did during my first conference.” “Another reason why this conference is important is because education majors from Misericordia University and the other schools can really benefit from the topics covered by our speakers and also from joining PSEA in general. This is the first real event for our chapter so we are hoping that it will be informational and fun for all who attend,” Sutton said. Workshop presenters will provide students with informational handouts, resources and references, and students can also receive
job-search guidance, including effective interviewing strategies and instruction on how to build a portfolio. “I just recently joined PSEA when I heard that this conference was coming to Misericordia,” said senior education major Marisa Ferenchick. “It is always good to be involved with something you’re passionate about to further your knowledge.” The conference will include a panel discussion by the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association on “A Day in the Life” of a special education preschool. Speech language pathologists and occupational therapists will be on hand to explain what it is like to work with the children and answer questions. Senior education major Holly Welsh said the PSEA conference will be her first. She said she is interested in learning more about the field and networking with students and professionals before she graduates this semester. “I think [the conference] will also provide underclassmen students with important information that will help them throughout their next few years in college. It will also allow them to become more
involved with PSEA, which I think will definitely help them develop important professional skills.” Being a member of PSEA offers many benefits. Students can be covered by additional liability insurance and also be eligible for legal support. Students are also eligible to compete for the PSEA Lucy A. Valero Scholarship and the NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Scholarship. “Being a member of PSEA is also an excellent addition to a resume for future teachers,” said Sutton. “I do know that I have more legal protection because I am a member. I also receive discounts from a variety of businesses. This is nice for me because I am a college student so I am on a tight budget,” said Welsh. Ferenchick said learning from the personal experiences of others is a great way to prepare oneself for a future career. “It’s always nice to be in a place with others who share the same passion that you do,” she said. Students who are a member of PSEA can attend the conference for $10. Non-members pay $40. quintanm@misericordia.edu
“Hockey because I watch the NHL a lot and I like watching players from other countries,” said sophomore Joey Yudichak.
“Snowboarding because Shaun White’s my favorite Olympian,” said senior Kyle Freeman.
“I like the ski jumping because I like to see how far they can go,” said junior Jamie Opela.
“Women’s ice hockey because I play ice hockey and one of my friends is on the Olympic team,” said senior Megan Lage.
“Figure skating because I think that it takes both creativity and athleticism and it takes strength, too,” said sophomore Sarah Boehnlein.
“Figure skating because it requires a lot of determination to keep trying,” said sophomore Jacqueline McMullen
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highlandernews.net
SPORTS PROGRAMS MEET EQUALITY LAW REQUIREMENTS
By Rob Evans, Reporter
Title IX, a federal law which ship in. So that’s big. We’re putprohibits sex discrimination in ting opportunity out there for our educational institutions as part students,” Martin said. of the Educational Amendments Martin added that funding Act of 1972, is often a dormant within programs is also fair for topic, but it is playing a big role at coaches and athletes. a university with growing athletic “The other thing that I would say programs, not the least of which in terms of funding with programs is football. and access to services is we have The law was set in place to help policies in place as it relates to women participate in school and meal money, travel, it doesn’t athletic programs. Before the law matter if you’re a male or a female, was implemented, few women or what sport you’re on. If you’re competed in sports. a football player or a field hockey Title IX states that “no person player, we have policies in place in the United States shall, on the so we’re dealing with all of those basis of sex be excluded from types of things even-handedly. So participation in, be denied the we’re in good shape as it relates benefits of, or be subjected to to that. So we’re consistent across discrimination under any educathe board with our funding of our tion program or activity receiving programs,” Martin said. federal financial assistance.” Cheerleading Not Included This mandate is instrumental in Although Title IX covers all making sure the university keeps sports programs, the university gender equality in check at all does not recognize the cheerleadtimes, including scholarships and ing squad as a sport, and therefore participation opportunities for cheerleaders are not eligible for sports. Title IX benefits. Athletic director Dave Martin According to head cheerleading said there are three main parts to coach Tara Sinclair, cheerleading is Title IX, which the school must not considered a sport because it comply with to receive benefits. is too subjective. The university met all three before “Traditional cheerleading is supthe addition of football. posed to be on the sideline, but “In order to be in compliance it’s evolved so much over the years with title IX, you only have to that there is that piece of tradimeet one of those three prongs. tional cheerleading where you’re Here at Misericordia, there was cheering on the team and you’re a time we met all three of them. like an ambassador maybe more Now with the addition of football, than other athletes, but the aththe first letic part prong is is really proporintense in tionality. regards to In other cheerleadwords, the ing comnumber of petition. students But that is particisubjective, pating in so it’s just athletics two-andshould be a-half in direct minutes proportion and you’re with your scored student enbased rollment. on what At one judges see. point we So there’s were, but not a score, now with there’s not the addia tally, and tion of 100 I think that more guys was the on campus problem,” we’re still Sinclair okay. Anysaid. ELLEN HOFFMAN/THE HIGHLANDER one who Sinclair has football First year cheerleader Carly Sees persaid as a forms during a break in the men’s basket- result of doesn’t meet that not being ball game Feb. 6. prong, and recogthat’s not a big deal because you nized by Title IX, cheerleaders only need to meet one of the three are denied funding that athletic to satisfy.” programs receive. The second component of “Well, I think that funding that Title IX requires an effort on the comes in from title IX is distribschool’s part to expand athletic uted to sports teams and since programs, and Martin said the cheerleading is not considered a school passes with flying colors. sport, we don’t benefit from that, “In the last 10 or 11 years we’ve and I think that’s a struggle everyadded women’s lacrosse and where with universities. I will say women’s track and field, both it’s a lot of work to develop a proindoor and outdoor. We’ve added gram and we have a pretty welltennis and we’ve added women’s developed cheerleading program. golf. So we have shown over the We have good numbers, particicourse of recent history that we pation and success rate. But not have expanded our offerings for having funding for competitions women, or the under populated and having to raise that money is sex, if you will,” Martin said. a lot of work,” Sinclair said. The third element requires the Even so, Sinclair said the school school to cater to the needs of and Martin do a tremendous job the underrepresented sex in the in helping the cheerleading squad school. succeed. “The final prong, which is a little “I will say our athletic departambiguous because it’s a little ment is really good to us. Dave difficult to measure, deals with Martin tries to work with us and accommodating the interest and make sure we have what we need ability of the underrepresented if we’re ever lacking,” Sinclair said. sex. Two and Three are probably Although cheerleading is not a tied closely together, but in the sport in the eyes of the NCAA, MAC, we are one of only two Martin said cheerleading is schools that offers every single treated as one at the school. sport that the conference holds a “We treat cheerleading here as championship for. So I would say a varsity sport. Now, it’s not an that it’s pretty safe to say that we NCAA sport, but we do treat it as are accommodating the interest of a varsity sport. They have to abide our men on campus,” Martin said. by all of the rules and regulations Although women make up the that other athletes on campus majority of the school’s populahave to,” Martin said. tion - 69% female, 31% percent Sinclair is torn over whether male - Martin said the men are cheerleading should even be ofnot underrepresented, as long as ficially labeled a sport and receive both genders receive the same Title IX benefits. treatment. “I’m very conflicted over it. I’ll “I think they key is making sure say that I think if it were considthat we are giving equivalent ered a sport, what I don’t like is opportunity to both. It doesn’t that I think the focus would behave to be identical opportunity, come more on competitive cheerbut equivalent opportunity, and leading, and traditional cheerleadthere’s no question we’re doing ing would fade. They’re athletes, that. I think the thing that speaks definitely, but I feel like it’s more volumes for us is that the only one than a sport,” Sinclair said. of two schools that offers every evansr4@misericordia.edu sport the MAC has a champion-
Sports
February 18, 2014
Stepping on Court at Right Time By Rob Evans, Reporter
The men’s basketball team is playing well at the right time after an inconsistent start to the regular season and going 0-2 in conference play. Since the sluggish start to conference play, which saw the squad fall to Wilkes University in overtime and to a gritty Manhattanville University team, the team has won seven of its last eight contests while asserting itself as one of the front-runners to make it in the Freedom Conference Tournament. Head Coach Trevor Woodruff said there is no secret formula to the team’s recent success. Instead, the veteran-filled squad is finally coming together. “No secrets,” Woodruff said. “We just played better defense collectively, and we just had a different guy every night step up and make a big play for us.” Woodruff said the team’s battletested experience enabled the squad to win tight games during its string of successes - four of six victories came by two points or less or were decided in overtime. “Experience is worth its weight in gold. It takes time to get it, and that’s why it’s difficult to have, but these guys have all played in big games. Matt (Greene), Joe (Busacca), Cael (Evans) and (Anthony) Sergio have all played at least a little bit on that team that won a championship two years ago, and Steve (Ware) has played plenty of minutes so his experience is fine. But that experience is probably as good as a reason as any,” he said. One of the players who has taken his game to another level in recent weeks is junior Busacca who lifted the team to victory over perennial powerhouse Delaware Valley University and FDU-Florham University, hitting the gamewinning basket in each game. Busacca, who has become more than just a role player in his freshman and sophomore years, scored 27 and 23 points in those games, respectively. “What I’ve liked is that when he’s aggressive he’s very difficult to contain. He can get to the basket. He can make mid range jump shots. His three-point shooting has improved as well, but what I’d like to see him do more is be consistently aggressive. It seems like it’s almost game to game – he’s aggressive and then he’s not aggressive, so I’d like to see more consistency out of him because when he’s aggressive we’re a better team,” Woodruff said. Busacca, along with all-conference teammates Greene and Ware, will have to maintain their levels of play given the list of teams at atop of the Freedom conference. As it stands, five teams have
a chance to make the Freedom Conference Tournament, but only four spots are up for grabs. Woodruff said the team needs to take things day by day. “Well, I think anything is possible when you look at it. There appear to be two teams at the bottom who have a difficult road to get back into it, maybe a third depending on what happens, but the top five are definitely all in the mix and can be anywhere from the top seed to out, and anywhere in between,” he said. Woodruff believes his team hasn’t reached its ceiling yet. “Hopefully we haven’t played our best basketball. I don’t think we’ve played well enough at this point to win a championship, so we’re going to have to get better. We’ve got to focus on wining each game individually. I think winning at home is imperative, and if you can steal one or two on the road it’s a bonus, but we’ve definitely got to narrow our sight line a little bit and just focus on what is directly in front of us,” Woodruff said. Junior Evans said the team will take each day one at a time. “It’s been tough,” Evans said. “We’ve been working every day at practice and coach lets us know, no matter how many games we win, we play each game on the day it is and we don’t look in the future. So we always want to be 1-0 and not look at the overall streak that’s happening in the moment so we’re always focused on the next team and that’s all our goals are. All the little pieces add up. It’s like a puzzle. You put the little pieces in and it adds up overtime. Hopefully we can get to the championship this year.” Evans felt what it was like to win a championship during his freshman season, and he is determined to get back there this year. “That feeling was unbelievable. I didn’t win anything in high school so coming here my freshman year and winning a championship for all the hard work we put in that year was unbelievable and that feeling of cutting down the net is something that you can’t picture - you just have to experience it. There are a couple of guys on the team that have had that taste of winning it all so we’re eager to get back. We have the talent on the team to do it, it’s just whether we put the pieces together and do it.” Woodruff said this team can be described with many adjectives, but it is a group that is as talented as any he has had. “Frustrating. Inconsistent. Talented. All of those words are fitting of the team but, we certainly have the potential to put it all together. No question.” evansr4@misericordia.edu
Top, junior Cael Evans takes a free throw shot during the second half of the game against Wilkes University. Left, senior Matt Greene looks to pass the ball to a teammate during the game against Wilkes University where the Cougars walked away with a 72-61 victory. Bottom, junior Joe Busacca looks for an open teammate to pass the ball during the first half of the mens game in the Anderson Center. ELLEN HOFFMAN/THE HIGHLANDER
STEPPING OUT OF THE GAME, INTO THE REAL WORLD
By Arthur Dowell, Web Editor
There comes a time when everyone has to give up something, and for many - even most - student athletes, that’s sports. Coaches at division III schools have told athletes one thing over the years: they are students before they are athletes, so many are not jolted by their jilting of sports. Some find their majors too demanding for sports commitments, and others lose interest and instead choose to focus on clubs and organizations. This may be the case on many of teams, as seniors are not taking up roster spots as much as younger classes are. Senior swimmer Bree Grzech said she is glad swimming is over for her. “It’s been a long 16 years of swimming. It’ll be nice not to have to do off-season workouts and not have to worry about next season.” Senior baseball player Joe Tagliarini has the opposite emotion as he prepares for his last season. “I honestly cannot believe it all is coming to an end. I have been playing baseball for my entire life, and I cannot imagine how it is going to change my life when this season is over.” Emotions run high for players who reflect on moments they cherish and the friendships they have made with teammates. For Grzech, it all hit her hard on the team’s last home meet against Albright College. “Us and Albright don’t get along, and realizing I would never swim again really hit me. I cried more at
that meet from all the emotions than I did at my senior meet.” Baseball season has yet to start, but Tagliarini knows that senior day will be the moment he knows the emotions will hit him.
Joe Tagliarini
Bree Grzech
“Seeing your teammates and their parents walk down the baseline is difficult to go through and once it’s my turn to walk down that line, it will be a rude awakening for me. As for my career, it will hit me on the last game we play.” With their competitive days coming to an end, both athletes mentioned an interest in coaching their respective sports and giving lessons to younger people who share the same passion. Both may even help at the college level as grad assistants. “I hope that the future teams have as much fun and desire to win as much as my previous three teams,” said Tagliarini. “With the coaching staff that MU has and the player they bring in, I feel this will continue to be great. I would like to see MU progress into a powerhouse for baseball where players come in expecting to win and then have that success.” Before they both officially move on from their playing days at MU, they acknowledge everything they’ve encountered in their tenure will be things they carry with them forever. The lessons and memories are things they will both will cherish and hope to share with others. Grzech will never forget the fun times she had with the members of the swim team. The freshman buzz cuts, the floats after practice, and her personal achievements will stay fresh in her mind. dowella@misericordia.edu
MOLD, CONTINUED
Continued from page 2
it’s not mold, it’s something else. We see a lot of issues,” A.J. Nudo, Assistant Director of Residence Life said. Once Res Life realized that mold growth was likely, staffers handed the case to Campus Safety. “We get the issue in, we look at it, but then we report it over to Paul Murphy’s group [Campus Safety], and say, ‘Here’s what the student’s saying to us. We’ve looked into it and your staff needs to come in and take a look at it because they are more knowledgeable on these things, and there’s somebody else that needs to come from an outside contracting group maybe,’” said Nudo. He added that while some cases can be handled by the staff, others require outside help. “Anytime we have situations like this, where we need an outside agent that we deal with to come in and to verify so it’s not just saying ‘It’s not this or it is this.’ We have an outside company come in, experts, and do air sampling and testing on the specific areas where things are seen and then they’re able to better tell us, ‘Hey, this is what you’re dealing with and here’s how you should go about correcting these issues.’” He added it’s important not to inflame situations simply because they involve mold. “It’s the word itself. I think people hear it and everybody gets frightened that it’s everywhere, it’s rampant, and that’s not the case,” said Nudo. “That’s what it is. It’s scary, people see it, they hear the word.” youngj5@misericordia.edu
highlandernews.net
Sports
GREENE, SEELY JOIN 1,000 POINT CLUB
By Josh Horton, Reporter
Senior basketball players Matt Greene and Hannah Seely may play on different teams, but they have similar, uniting goals. Both Seely and Greene recently scored their 1,000th point of their career, and both hope to hold a Freedom Conference Championship banner in late February. “I’ve worked extremely hard for four years and it has always been one of my goals.” Greene said. “Winning has always been more important though. I came in to college with the mentality to do whatever it takes to win whether I had to score or not. I must give the majority of the credit to my coaches and my teammates. My coaches put me in a position where I can have the most success and my teammates were the ones to get me open and pass me the ball.” Seely celebrated the milestone alongside her sister, Justine, a first year forward. “She wasn’t sure she wanted to play in college, but I’m glad that she chose Misericordia and chose to play,” she said. “I’m really proud of her. There’s something bittersweet about being able to be on the court with her as she’s starting her career while I’m ending mine.” Both the men’s and women’s teams won Freedom Conference Championships in the 2011-2012 season. Although both teams lost in the first round, the men to New York University and the women to Tufts University, both players said it was their favorite moment as a Cougar. “It was easily the best experience I’ve ever had playing basketball. The amount of effort our team put in to that season was outstanding. Our leadership was exactly what it needed to be and we had great role players to fill in the spots,” Greene said. “Going to the NCAA tournament and playing against NYU was an insane atmosphere. It was filled with students and many fans that came out to support us. It was truly an experience that I can never forget.” Seely said it was a rare feeling every player should feel at least once in their careers. “Nothing compares to winning the MAC championship. It’s a feeling that I can’t explain, but I’ll never forget,” Seely said. “I hope the underclassmen on this team get to experience that before they graduate. They deserve to know what that feels like.” Greene said coach Trevor Woodruff is the biggest reason he has enjoyed so much success over his four years. “He has been hard on me since the day I’ve walked on this campus,” Greene said. “He never allowed me to become comfortable and satisfied with my game and that’s how my game has elevated tremendously.” Greene added that lessons he learned off-court are equally valuable. “One thing I’ve realized over the past four years is that he’s been teaching me more about life than he is teaching me basketball,” Greene said. “He would never allow me to skip or show up late to
February 18, 2014 5
Viewfinder: Women’s Basketball
Left, senior Katie Drayton passes the ball to a teammate from center court in an attempt to get closer to the basket. The Cougars won the home game 78-76. Bottom left, first year Shannon Croasdale carries the ball down the court during the women’s game against Eastern University on Feb. 12 in the Anderson Sports and Health Center. Bottom right, junior Amanda Greene takes a three-point shot during the second half of the women’s game against Eastern University. The women’s team has one regular season game remaining, away against Manhattanville and then it is scheduled to participate in the Freedom Championships at the end of the month. MARY BOVE /THE HIGHLANDER
MARY BOVE & ELLEN HOFFMAN/THE HIGHLANDER
Top, Hannah Seely dribbles down the court with Sam Baro running by her side. Seely reached her 1,000 point at King’s College. Bottom, fans hold up the “Green-E-Meter” a countdown to Greene’s 1,000 point reached at home against Wilkes University. practice just like he would never let me skip or show up late to class or anything. I truly am lucky to have such a great mentor.” Seely has played under two coaches in her years as a Cougar, first for former head coach Tom Griffith and now for coach Allison Kern. It wasn’t always easy trying to adjust to a new philosophy, but she says she has learned from Kern. “It wasn’t necessarily easy to adjust to different coaching styles, but it was worth it,” Seely said. “I can’t express how grateful I am for everything that coach kern has done for me individually, for us as a team, and for this program.” The similarities between are underscored by the fact that they both come from basketball families. Seely’s uncle was her high school coach and her grandfather doesn’t miss a game. “My grandfather lives to watch Justine and I play, which I think is another reason what makes playing with her so special. He is so proud of us and reminds us everyday of how happy it makes him to be able to come and watch us,” Seely said. “He actually got lost on the way to the kings game and didn’t make it on time to see my 1000th point, which ironically is possibly the only time he’s missed part of a game ever.” As the regular season winds
down, the players are starting to realize they only have a few games of collegiate basketball left. Seely said she will miss the feeling she gets when she walks onto the floor. “I love when we walk on to the court and you know that the person standing next to you wants to win as badly as you do,” Seely said. “These next few games are critical for us and that might make some people nervous, but I know my teammates and I are excited to have a few more chances to battle it out. I’ll definitely miss that feeling of playing with a purpose.” Greene said there is nothing like lacing up your shoes and playing with your teammates, but ironically enough, he will miss something most players dread – the first day of practice. “There’s nothing like walking into the gym on that day knowing coach is going to make you run until you can’t stand, yell at you to get in a better stance, tell you to give better effort,” Greene said. “Every time I laced up my shoes and put a jersey on, I was going to give it my all for my brothers and my coaches. They’ve put so much time and effort into me that letting them down was not an option. Even though this is my last year of playing competitive basketball, I refuse to let it walk out of my life.” hortonj@misericordia.edu
MU Exposure: Winter Storm Pax Impacts Campus
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Campus was hit by winter storm Pax, the second major storm in two weeks, which caused all classes to be cancelled and offices closed on Feb. 13.
6 highlandernews.net
Viewfinder: Students Compete For Mr. Misericordia 2014
February 18, 2014
LOANS, CONTINUED Continued from page 1
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Clockwise from top, the contestants wait for the results of the competition. The event was postponed to Feb. 11 due to a snow storm. During the swimsuit competition, junior Luke Atkins strikes a pose. Atkins performed a dance to One Republic’s “Counting Stars.” Sophomore Zach Sabaday flexes for the crowd in his bathing suit and coconut bra. Sabaday channeled Miley Cyrus for the talent portion of the show. Trever Reed, a sophomore, dances with sophomore Nick Stanovick and friends. Reed placed second in the competition standings. Sophomore Corey Hanabach competes in the question-and-answer portion of the night. The contestants answered two questions, one about Misericordia University and another more personal question.
absolutely exhausted grant eligibility before they even look at loans,” said Dessoye. Grants are awarded on both the federal and state level and can help subsidize students’ tuition. Maas and Pesta said the university also offers payment plans to students whose tuition is not covered by financial aid. Students can set up an interest free payment plan with Sallie Mae, but this plan includes breaking up the remainder of the tuition into three payments, payments that aren’t always possible for students to make out-of-pocket. For many students who already have loans - interest rates are rising. “The interest rate right now is tied into the ten-year Treasury note, and experts claim that the value of that note will go up. Now, how much it will go up is being debated hotly,” said Dessoye. Dessoye said one of the only good thing about rising rates is they cannot change again for a year. “Once they set it for a year the rate for that year is locked in. It won’t change. At least you’ll know, going into the process, what the current rate will be,” said Dessoye. Interest rates won’t have an immediate effect on students, but they will lead to higher payments when the bills come due. Federal officials are considering requiring students who take loans to complete a more intensive education program during both entrance and exit counseling. Now, students are required to take entrance counseling before first applying for federal loans, and they complete an exit counseling program when they leave school. Dessoye questions how effective counseling is because students seemingly complete it without a lot of thought. “It’s really not a very good system in that a student simply checks boxes and say, ‘Yes I agree to these terms’ and you really have to wonder how closely they look at those terms. We fear that students go into the process not being very educated,” said Dessoye. Another proposal for entrance and exit counseling is to require universities to become more hands-on with helping students fully understand what they are agreeing to. This would require the financial aid office to provide more education to students. “For instance, there’s a suggestion that colleges should be required to give information relative to student loan balances, interest rates, repayment terms, repayment options, those kinds of things,” said Dessoye. Dessoye believes that if universities are required to spend more time educating students about student loan terms, students would benefit. “Anything, any information that’s shared more proactively with a student to teach them about their rights and responsibilities as a borrower are really good ideas,” said Dessoye. Maas and Pesta want students to know that there is no such thing as too much information when it comes to borrowing. Students who are unable to make ends meet with their tuition bills are told to check out alternative scholarship websites as well. These sites can provide students with scholarships tailored to their exact specifications. Dessoye recommends FastWeb.com. “Through FastWeb a student completes an online autobiographical sketch that talks about things such as what they are majoring in, extracurricular activities, leadership roles they have had. When a student submits the profile then FastWeb gives the student a printable list of scholarships that either identically match or generally match the profile,” said Dessoye. It should be noted that going through such websites is the student’s responsibility. Another proposed change would allow students to dispute the amount owed on their federal loans, a right they do not have now. If a student defaults, they are required to repay the amount specified regardless whether the amount is accurate. “So the one proposal is that if a student does dispute the amount that is claimed to be owed then they have the opportunity to have that proved to them – that this is a valid debt,” said Dessoye. A similar proposed change could lower payments for students who default. Currently, students must pay a 1% rate, but the change would tie repayment to students’ incomes. hayesb@misericordia.edu